Pop Genre analysis

Transcripts - Pop Genre analysis

1.
TAYLOR SWIFT- 22
Costume-
Taylor Swift’s costume in her ’22’ music video is represented as very casual, Taylor's
costume emphasises her feminine personality and fits with the age demographic of
16-25 bubbly girly audience. Taylor is wearing a top that has ‘not a lot going on at
the moment’ ,this shows to the audience that the artist is care-free and shows
stereotypes of pop music audience to be studying for exams, college, go to parties,
be at the most enjoyable time (socially) in their life , so they have the time to enjoy
the music. Her hat worn in the first screenshot (1) is currently in fashion and typical to
be sold in an mainstream shop that is available and affordable for the target
audience. However, during the music video we see Taylor dressed up for a party
with her friends which shows different aspects of the artist. The use of red lipstick,
shows Taylor swift unique and vibrant, however the make-up still is not as dramatic as
other pop music videos, this implies the simplicity of the artist and her music.
Narrative-
During this pop video, there is not a strong narrative throughout, the main basis of the
video is the following of Taylor and her friends having fun and celebrating being ‘22’,
the video includes shots of the beach, a party and casually hanging around, this
emphasises the fact that the video is mainly focusing on the enjoyment and
performance of the artist. The narrative is linear.
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2.
Shots and Setting-
TAYLOR SWIFT- 22
The majority of the shots used in the ‘22’ music video were close up, the
close ups were based around Taylor Swift, the use of the medium close
up in the first screenshot (1) is to show Taylor being happy and joyful, the
shot also implies that she will be the main focus and shows to the
audience the innocence of the artist. The second screenshot (2) is of the
group of friends running down the beach, the extreme long shot allows
the audience to see the setting of the video, the beach setting sets a
good mood within the music videos, as it represents peace and
tranquillity. The low angle of the shot, gives an impression of us looking up
to the group of girls and gives them the impression of being more
powerful or dominant. In shot 3, the medium long shot gives an personal
effect on the video, allowing the audience to look into the artists ‘life’,
the positioning of Taylor Swift in front of her friends, tell us that Taylor is
individual and main focus but still examines Taylor as a sociable and fun-loving
character.
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3.
TAYLOR SWIFT- 22
Colour and lighting-
Sticking to the conventions of an pop music video, the composition of
the video is very bright and vibrant, this expresses the mood upbeat
music, linking the music with the visuals. In the third screenshot (3) the
background is white and very bright, this allows the red sunglasses (prop)
to stand out.
The lighting primarily in the video, is natural and key lighting. In the
second screenshot (2) the extreme long shot of the girls running across
the beach uses the natural light of the sun, this creates silhouette of their
bodies and shows the close positioning of the girls, showing bonds
between them and the strong friendship they have. This shows contrast
to shot 1, in shot 1 the shot is based in the party, the use of key light on
the subject (Taylor Swift).
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4.
KATY PERRY-THIS IS HOW WE DO
Costume-
In ‘This is how we do’ music video, Katy Perry costumes are regularly changed, each
costume is chosen to fit with every shot used e.g. Screenshot 1 Katy is wearing a
patterned dress to fit in with the back drop, this is inspired by a previous music video by
Gotye ‘Somebody I used to know’ (Screenshot 5), the vibrant costumes used shows that
the artist is fun and quirky. In Screenshot 4, the provocative mini skirt and mini crop is very
suggestive to the audience, the use of this costume creates ‘male gaze’. The continuous
colourful costume change, shows the confidence of Katy Perry.
Narrative-
The narrative in the video is linear, however there is not storyline, the music video just
represents having fun and living life to the full. The performance is key in the video, the
1
2
3
4
majority of the video is Katy
performing with
background dancers and her
positioned in the main focus.
5

5.
KATY PERRY-THIS IS HOW WE DO
Shots and Setting-
The main shots used in the music video were close ups and long shots,
the use of these shots allow the audience to see the artists costume
changing, this demonstrates to the audience the change of mood in
this music and artist, it also allows the audience to see close up of the
artists make up and hair to get inspiration, as Katy Perry is seen as a
role-model for her young female audience.
The setting in the music video is very basic, the blue back drop is used
throughout the video, the props are the key of the video, this makes
the audience visualise the situation that Katy is presenting. The use of a
basic setting allows us to focus on the artist and their performance,
focusing on the visual aspects , this aspect of the video links in with the
simple narrative of the video and shows common convention of a pop
music video. Most pop music videos tend to attract there young
teenager audience by using basic, fun-loving and colourful videos to
make it easy to watch and fit with the irregular lyrics in the song.

6.
KATY PERRY-THIS IS HOW WE DO
Special Effects-
During the music video, animation is shown of little ice cream
characters (screenshot 1 + 2), this use of special effect contradicts the
‘typical’ conventions of a pop music video, special effects don’t tend
to be added in pop, as they primary base the video on the subject
(female/male artist) or the relationship between the lyrics and the
singer. The use of animation tells us that the video audience is young
and that the video is not meant to be serious.
Colour and Lighting-
The main lighting used in the video was key lighting, the key lighting
spot pointed aspects of the video and show the music video is an
performance. The colours in the video, express to the audience an
vibrant and bubbly song, that is uplifting and is meant to cheer the
audience up.
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7.
WE FOUND LOVE- RIHANNA
Setting-
In Rihanna’s ‘We found love’ music video, the
setting is not very typical of a pop genre, the
setting is based in an London council estate, the
setting is very basic and the setting allows the
audience to relate to the artist, the setting could
relate to many of the audience, as the setting is
not represented as ‘perfect’ and ‘glamorous’
like many other music videos. The director uses
symbolic codes with the flat that Rihanna and
her boyfriend share, the flat is very basic this
shows the audience that they are just In love
and don’t care how their place looks like.
During the video, the setting is also in an
supermarket and fish & chip shop, both these
settings are generic codes of romantic music
videos, relating to teenage couples. Rihanna is
also shown in a field with her featuring DJ Calvin
Harris, the setting again is very basic and links
with the lyrics of falling in love in an ‘hopeless
place’.
The setting of a festival,
like Glastonbury
festival, festivals are
known to be filled with
teens, wanting to run
free, enjoy music in the
video allowing teens to
identify with Rihanna.

8.
WE FOUND LOVE-RIHANNA
There is no particular dance routine in this video as the theme of the music video is a story.
However, there is a scene in the music video where Rihanna, the actor that plays her
boyfriend and many other extras are outside in the open, in what looks like a party/music
event with a DJ, and everyone is jumping up and down to the music and creating what is
referred to as a mosh pit which is a kind of dance that often occurs at pop/rock concerts. This
demonstrates a genre characteristic as the genre of the song, Rihanna’s music, is pop.
The video is very clearly illustrating and amplifying the lyrics. Couple in love but very young,
unstable, out of control and confused.
The lyrics ‘we found love in a hopeless place’ is projected in the visual as they are living a
messy lifestyle with no priorities or sense of stability, however, they have let the love between
them be a painkiller and control the situation that is hopeless which is breaking them down
and as you can see in the video; they’re both taking a lot drugs, very young and therefore
drugs break them down and becoming addictive like the love they cannot help. Drugs in the
visual are used as a metaphor for the love as drugs can be controlling and very numbing
allowing you to forget what actually is going on. In shot 3, the extreme close up of the
cigarette being lit is very common within films, this is used to show the intensity of the drug
comparing it to the love they share, the colour effects added to the cigarette, represent to
the audience that the drug allows them to express themselves and be away from reality.
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9.
WE FOUND LOVE-RIHANNA
Shots- the main shots used in the music video are close ups of
the two subjects(Rihanna and boyfriend). The first individuals
shots of them both which suggests what they have ended up
like after and then close ups of them together to show what
they were like and how close their relationship was.
Mid-shots are shown to show the audience her location at the
time, then close ups of her body and he facial expressions which
follows on to them touching each other. The intensity of the
relationship is shown through sexual connotations, the
relationship is very intense, this is also represented through close
ups and fast paced shots.